Future directions of administrative boundary design in support of Spatial Data Infrastructures

Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) comprise a set of policies aimed at coordinating the numerous layers of spatial information upon which society functions. To achieve this objective effectively an SDI must encompass policies, standards, and procedures for organisations to cooperatively produce and share geographic data. One of the most fundamental problems restricting the objectives of SDI is the fragmentation of data between different agency boundaries. Essentially this problem stems from the differing criteria and methods adopted by agencies designing individual boundary units. This current lack of coordination and unstructured methodologies for subdividing space has lead to difficulties in integrating, analysing and exchanging information across boundaries and through time. To further the objectives of SDIs in providing mechanisms for data integration, methods by which agencies may derive administrative boundaries using a common framework, which still meet their own individual requirements are being investigated. Through the development algorithms and standards for the design of administrative boundaries within a spatial hierarchy it is envisaged that SDI will incorporate data integration and cross analysis to its range of existing functions

Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning Applied to Automated Design of Administrative Boundaries

Throughout history, humankind has segmented and delineated the geospatial environment in various ways to support administrative, political and economic activities. To date, the majority of spatial boundaries have been constructed in an uncoordinated manner with individual organisations generating individual boundaries to meet individual needs. This practice has resulted in boundary layers that even the most sophisticated GIS (Geographic Information System) technology is unable to cross analyse accurately. Consequently, geospatial information is fragmented over a series of boundary units. The objective of this paper is to investigate new methods for the organisation of spatial data by applying the principles of Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning (HSR), where HSR can be used as the theoretical framework for investigating the hierarchical structuring of space and for providing new methods for accurate data exchange. Also, to present the issues found in the development of a prototype developed for delineating boundaries within the GIS environment. This prototype has been constructed utilising the state of Victoria, Australia as a working laboratory for development and analysis

Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning theory and GIS technology applied to the automated delineation of administrative boundaries

Throughout history, humankind has segmented and delineated the geographic environment\ud in various ways to support administrative, political and economic activities. To date, the majority of spatial boundaries have been constructed in an uncoordinated manner with individual organisations generating individual boundaries to meet their own specific needs. As a result of this lack of coordination, there is a fragmentation of information over a series of boundary units, which not only limits the potential uses for data collected, but also the scope of analysis possible between boundary layers. The proposed solution outlined in this research involves the reorganisation of the spatial environment based on Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning (HSR) and the application of a GIS-based algorithm for the automated delineation of boundaries. By using this approach, it is expected that administrative boundaries can be formed through the aggregation of smaller units. This proposed system is focussed towards facilitating rapid and efficient cross analysis of data sets

Developing a theoretical framework for the delineation of administrative boundaries within a rural context

One of the major problems limiting the integration, comparison and transfer of data within Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) worldwide is the current arrangement of administrative boundaries. Many of these boundaries have been created by individual agencies to meet their own specific needs with very little coordination. Due to this lack of coordination, current technologies for analysing geospatial information, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), cannot provide accurate results. As a result, there is a fragmentation of information over a series of boundary units. This fragmentation of information not only limits the potential uses for data collected but also the potential scope of GIS analysis possible between boundary layers. This paper forms part of an ongoing research project. To date the issue of structuring metropolitan boundaries has been addressed and widely published. In contrast, this paper focuses on providing a theoretical framework for improving the structure of administrative boundaries within the rural environment

Automating the administration boundary design process using Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning (HSR) theory and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Throughout history, humankind has segmented and delineated the geographic environment in various ways to support administrative, political and economic activities. To date, the majority of spatial boundaries have been constructed in an uncoordinated manner with individual organisations generating individual boundaries to meet individual needs. This practice has resulted in boundary layers that even the most sophisticated Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is unable to cross analyse accurately. Consequently, geospatial information is fragmented over a series of boundary units. The objective of this paper is to present the findings of a research project aimed to investigate new methods for the organisation of spatial data by applying the principles of Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning (HSR), where HSR can be used as the theoretical framework for investigating the hierarchical structuring of space. In the first section, the paper outlines the problem of data exchange and data integration encountered worldwide when utilising current administrative boundaries and the data attached to them. It also reviews the most commonly adopted methods to overcome the problem and the issues inherent to these methods. Secondly, the paper introduces the concept and theory of HSR and reviews common practices in boundary design. The paper summarises constraints and issues arising from the use of GIS jointly with HSR in polygon-base design. Thirdly, an HSR-based prototype developed for delineating boundaries within the GIS environment is detailed. This prototype has been constructed utilising the state of Victoria, Australia as a working laboratory for development and analysis. The prototype has been implemented in ArcView (ESRI) using cadastre (land parcels), road network and major natural barriers as the core information and Avenue as the programming language. In the prototype, the agencies considered were ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) and Australia Post due to their widely acceptance and use amongst institutions and individuals dealing with geospatial data and analyses

Developing a theoretical framework for the delineation of administrative boundaries within a rural context

One of the major problems limiting the integration, comparison and transfer of data within Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) worldwide is the current arrangement of administrative boundaries. Many of these boundaries have been created by individual agencies to meet their own specific needs with very little coordination. Due to this lack of coordination, current technologies for analysing geospatial information, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), cannot provide accurate results. As a result, there is a fragmentation of information over a series of boundary units. This fragmentation of information not only limits the potential uses for data collected but also the potential scope of GIS analysis possible between boundary layers. This paper forms part of an ongoing research project. To date the issue of structuring metropolitan boundaries has been addressed and widely published. In contrast, this paper focuses on providing a theoretical framework for improving the structure of administrative boundaries within the rural environment

Automating the administration boundary design process using Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning (HSR) theory and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Throughout history, humankind has segmented and delineated the geographic environment in various ways to support administrative, political and economic activities. To date, the majority of spatial boundaries have been constructed in an uncoordinated manner with individual organisations generating individual boundaries to meet individual needs. This practice has resulted in boundary layers that even the most sophisticated Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is unable to cross analyse accurately. Consequently, geospatial information is fragmented over a series of boundary units. The objective of this paper is to present the findings of a research project aimed to investigate new methods for the organisation of spatial data by applying the principles of Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning (HSR), where HSR can be used as the theoretical framework for investigating the hierarchical structuring of space. In the first section, the paper outlines the problem of data exchange and data integration encountered worldwide when utilising current administrative boundaries and the data attached to them. It also reviews the most commonly adopted methods to overcome the problem and the issues inherent to these methods. Secondly, the paper introduces the concept and theory of HSR and reviews common practices in boundary design. The paper summarises constraints and issues arising from the use of GIS jointly with HSR in polygon-base design. Thirdly, an HSR-based prototype developed for delineating boundaries within the GIS environment is detailed. This prototype has been constructed utilising the state of Victoria, Australia as a working laboratory for development and analysis. The prototype has been implemented in ArcView (ESRI) using cadastre (land parcels), road network and major natural barriers as the core information and Avenue as the programming language. In the prototype, the agencies considered were ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) and Australia Post due to their widely acceptance and use amongst institutions and individuals dealing with geospatial data and analyses

Automating the administration boundary design process using Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning theory and Geographical Information Systems

This paper addresses the problems associated with the integration of data between incongruent boundary systems. Currently, the majority of spatial boundaries are designed in an uncoordinated manner with individual organisations generating individual boundaries to meet individual needs. As a result, current technologies for analysing geospatial information, such as geographic information systems (GISs), are not reaching their full potential. In response to the problem of uncoordinated boundaries, the authors present an algorithm for the hierarchical structuring of administrative boundaries. This algorithm applies hierarchical spatial reasoning (HSR) theory to the automated structuring of polygons. In turn, these structured boundary systems facilitate accurate data integration and analysis whilst meeting the spatial requirements of selected agencies. The algorithm is presented in two parts. The first part outlines previous research undertaken by the authors into the delineation of administrative boundaries in metropolitan regions. The second part outlines the distinctly different constraints required for administrative-boundary design in rural areas. The formalisation of the algorithm has taken place in a GIS environment utilising Avenue, an object-orientated programming language that operates under ArcView, the desktop software developed and distributed by ESRI

Automating the administration boundary design process using Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning theory and Geographical Information Systems

This paper addresses the problems associated with the integration of data between incongruent boundary systems. Currently, the majority of spatial boundaries are designed in an uncoordinated manner with individual organisations generating individual boundaries to meet individual needs. As a result, current technologies for analysing geospatial information, such as geographic information systems (GISs), are not reaching their full potential. In response to the problem of uncoordinated boundaries, the authors present an algorithm for the hierarchical structuring of administrative boundaries. This algorithm applies hierarchical spatial reasoning (HSR) theory to the automated structuring of polygons. In turn, these structured boundary systems facilitate accurate data integration and analysis whilst meeting the spatial requirements of selected agencies. The algorithm is presented in two parts. The first part outlines previous research undertaken by the authors into the delineation of administrative boundaries in metropolitan regions. The second part outlines the distinctly different constraints required for administrative-boundary design in rural areas. The formalisation of the algorithm has taken place in a GIS environment utilising Avenue, an object-orientated programming language that operates under ArcView, the desktop software developed and distributed by ESRI